Mechanism for manipulating flexible revetment mats



FLEXIBLE REVETMENT MATS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 16, 1954 F. l, LoUcKEsMECHANISM FOR MANIPULATING Filed may 2, 195o Feb.' 16, 1954 F. l.LOUCKES MECHANISM FOR MANIPULATING FLEXILE REVETMENT MATS 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed May 2, 1950 Feb. I6, 1954` F. l. I OUCKES 2,669,479

MECHANISM FOR MANIPULATING FLEXIBLE REVETMENT MATS Filed May 2, 1950 5Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 16, 195,4

MECHANISM Fon MANrrULATINo 'nLEXlBr-.n nEvE'rMnNr MATS Frank I. Louckes,Memphis, Tenn. finnlieeiien Mey 2. lie@ Senn! Ne- 159,562 5 Claims. (Cl.294-117) (Granted under Title i" sec. 266) The invention describedherein may be manufactured and used by or'forV the Government forgovernmental purposes, without payment 'to me of any royalty thereon.This linvention relates to improvements in revetment mats adapted toprotect against' erosion on levees, river banks, river bottoms-shores,canalsand the'lile, the mats being designed to cover areas of suchshores" to protect the same against current erosion, wave wash, andother similar destructive elements. f A A Generally speaking, theserevetment mats when placed in location, constitute permanentinsaineme-There'feee they' must be @e andere Weight to prevent displacement ordislocation bereuen enrrleniler weve' eenen end they mest be suiicientlyflexible to enable them to be self-accommodating to irrefgnlaritiesofthe shore line. These revetnientY mattresses vare composed of apluralityl oi vnexible sections cgnstru'cted of flexinterconnectedconcrete slabs'clofsely spaced apart, and held together by,` reinforcingwires which extend' continuously from block to block, bothlongitudinally yand transversely, whereby a flexible unit section isprodnced. Y

The IHEGSS asmbled by flexibly iQmg the ends 0f adjacent eeetene erseiiales Tine mattress, approximately Afonr feet Wilde by twentynve feetlens in snifeee dimensions and ennui t1nee inenes think, .ie .neet inSteel ferme divided l.

by a horizontal plane into top and bottom form sections. The bottom formsections are varranged side-by-side with their longitudinal edgespractically in contact with adjacent forms and permanently bolted to abase casting slabtwenty-iive .feet Wide by indefinite length, dependingnpon the number of forms in use. The top form Sections are removable.Both the top and bottom form sections are each divided into threesnbsections or square'sfi measuring four feet by eight feet 4fourinches, and which, when assembled end-to-end, make up the full formlengths.

In operation, Athe top form sections are assembled on the bottom formsand the completed forms are filled with concrete, and the top of theconcrete is strucl; off flush With the top of the top form andVfinished. When the concrete has partially set, just enough so thatvertical surfaces will not Slough when unsupported, the top formsections are removed. The period of setting seldom exceeds seven and onehalf hours. When the top forms have been removed and the concrete hassubstantially fully set, it is lifted from the casting frame by theimproved mechanism of the present invention.

Lio

As is inst indicated above, the present invention relates specificallyto 'equipment designed particularly for piclging up andstock piling theprecast articulated concrete revetment mattress sections, the inventionhaving for one of its '0bjects, the provision of safe and expeditiousmeans for lifting the precast sections of large surfface area. A furtherobject of the invention is to previde lifting equipment for lifting suchsections f large area by means of embedded reinforcements, access towhich is provided by openings formed in thev top surface of thesectionsat thevtime the concrete is poured into the molds.

still further object of the invention is to provide lifting means `for afiezfribly articulated concrete square of a revetrnent mattress whichwill accomplish the nenne. ef ehe tenere eeen" end free fromdistortional stresses during the lifting and stool; piling of theconcrete square.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed outinparticulariti/,inthe ennendedelenne ,It Will be nnderstood that aflexible revetment mattress is composed of `flexiblyinterconnectedconcrete slabs of thin cross-section, these `slabs being interconnectedinto squares of large snrface area, as has been pointed out above.A'Ihere are no protruding parts by Vwhich it can be picked up, nor canitbe picked up by its edges; andas the cast squares are removed from thecasting slab when `they are less than twenty-fourhours old, they must behandled careinlly to 'avoid unequal lifting strains which would resultin bre'alage. The improved lifting mechanisms of the present inventionis simple in construction and operation, but it is adapted for heavyduty" service.

The improved lifting mechanism of the present invention will beunderstood more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a lifting mechanism, embodying theprinciples of the present invention, the mechanism being shown as beingpositioned over a revetment mattress square which is to be lifted by themechanism of the invention and manipulated thereby;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation of the construction of Fig.1, the View being taken `on the line II-II of Fig. l, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the lifting device ofthe invention lowered into operative position on the revetment square;

Fig. s is a fragmentary plan View of the lifting device ,of thisinvention Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation takenon the line V-V of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved mechanism ofthe invention, the device being shown in raised position above therevetment square.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference character Adesignates generally a revetment square which is composed of concreteslabs 8 Which have been cast around reinforcing wires I8 and I2. Thewires III define connections between adjacent pairs of the precast slabs8, the end loops I I thereof being exposed to permit the tying theretoof corresponding end loops of an adjacent similar square (not shown)assembled to the square A in end-to-end relation for increasing, as maybe needed, the Width of the assembly revetment mattress. These Wires Il]extend longitudinally through adjacent slabs 8, but are transverselyextending with respect to the assembled square. The slabs 8 are cast insuch manner that the top half of the slabs forms a substantially squareend butt which overhangs the lower half of the slabs, thereby forming arecess in which the connecting loop I I is received. The wires I2 extendlongitudinally through the assembled mattress section or square A andform flexible connections or hinges between adjacent slabs 8 that areassembled in side-by-side relation. These wires I2 terminate ineye-loops I4 which are enclosed in end' recesses I5 and are adapted tobe interconnected with similar end loops of an adjacent square assembledto the square A in side-by-side relation. In the illustrated form of therevetrnent square, the slabs 8 are cast with V-shaped sides which can bebrought into close engagement one with another for preventingobjectionable separation of the adjacent slabs.

When the slabs 8 are cast, they are cast with lateral stirrup openingsI8 therein, which openings register with the wires I2 and permit accessthereto of lifting instrumentalities to be described hereinafter indetail, for lifting the cast and assembled square out of the castingmolds, and for stock piling.

This lifting mechanism forms the subject matter of the presentinvention, and is indicated generally by B.

This lifting mechanism comprises a frame coinposed of a longitudinallyextending I-beam 28, the web of which is disposed vertically, with theupper and lower flanges 22 and 24, respectively, substantiallyhorizontal.

To the underside of the flange 24, there are welded or otherwise rigidlysecured, spaced transverse beams 26, which are reinforced by diagonalbraces 28, welded to the web of the I-beam 2U, and to the transversebeams 2S, these latter having mounted thereon the longitudinallyextending lateral angle beams 3, from which project outwardly spacedbrackets 32, the brackets being the same number on each side and inopposite alignment. These brackets pivotally carry the depending arms34, the pivotal connections being shown at 36. The depending arms 34terminate in inwardly directed hooks 38 that are adapted to enterstirrup openings I8 in the slabs 8, and to engage beneath the wires I2.

Mechanism is provided for actuating these arms 34. This mechanismincludes spaced transverse I-beams 4D that are welded to the undersideof the lower flange 24 of I-beam 28. Depending from the transverseI-beams 40 are bearing brackets 42, which form bearings for a shaft 44that extends through the length of the machine. On this shaft 44, andintermediate opposite lateral arms 34, are the spaced crank discs 4t towhich are pivotally secured, as indicated at 48, oppositely extendinglever arms 50 that are pivoted to the laterally oppositely dependingarms 34, as isV indicated at 52. The arms 34 are interconnected ingroups by the angle bars 54 welded thereto, the drawings showing thearms 34 to be interconnected in groups of live, although this specificnumber is not critical. However, it enables the reduction in the numberof the crank discs 43, so that only two of the crank discs 46 and theoppositely pivotally mounted lever arms 58 will be required for theactuation of each interconnected group of the depending arms 34, therebeing one of these assemblies at each end of each group so that all ofthe depending arms 34 of each group will be actuated simultaneously.

The pivotal connections 48 between the lever arms 50 and the crank discs4B are somewhat offset, as shown, and the arms 5t move the arms 34inwardly and outwardly responsively to corresponding rotary motions ofthe crank discs 46, responsively to turning the shaft 44 by actuation ofthe turning lever 56, which is keyed to the shaft 44. One of theseturning levers is mounted on each end of the shaft 44, so that thedepending arms 34 may be actuated by an operator at either end of themachine. Also, at either end of the machine, there is welded to thebottom flanges of the lateral beams 30, a transversely extending anglebeam '58, to the depending flange of which is secured thereto an anglemember 6B, there being such angles mounted in corresponding positions onboth sides of the machine. To these angle members 6D are secured bearingbrackets 64 for bearing rollers 66. Also, the I-beam 20 carries spacedeye-bolts 58, for receiving suspension chains 'ID that are received in aring 'I2 which is adapted to receive a hook 'I4 which is suspended froma lifting crane, not shown. Adjustably mounted on one of thelongitudinal lateral angles 30 is a vertical end guide bar 'IB extendingloosely through a socket 'I8 carried by a horizontally extending slidebar 8B which rides on its angle bar 38. The guide bar 16 is providedwith a flanged head 8 I. A similar lateral guide bar 82 is providedwhich is slidable in its socket 83 carried by one of the transverse bars40 at each end of the form and has a flanged head 85, these guide bars16 and 82 being adapted to engage the revetment square A for positioningthe handling mechanism relative to the square. Chains 84 suspended fromthe ends of the lateral angle bars 38, and having a hook 8G on the endthereof, are provided for supporting the end slabs of the mat duringlifting and moving of the mat, by insertion of the hooks 86 in the endloops I4 of the Wires I2.

In operating the present improved lifting device, it is placed over theconcrete revetment square A and centered by guide bars 'I6 and 82; andthe hooks 33 are brought into registry with the stirrup openings I8,this manipulation being effected by the crane from which the liftingdevice is suspended. The lifting device then is lowered onto the matsquare A with the hooks 38 in the stirrup openings I 8 and below thewires I2. Shifting the lever 56 from the position shown in Fig. 2 tothat shown in Fig. 3 causes the hooks 38 to be forced inwardly andslipped under the reinforcing Wires I2, and since the bearing rollers6e, are in engagement with. the, tee eurfeee ef the matsquareA, therollers S6 'permit the frame to be shifted` on the mat square Aresponsively to the pincers action of the hooks il?` against the wiresl2, thereby automatically centering the lifting device on the mat squareA relative thereto.

When the lifting device and mat square A are lifted and the squares areplaced on a stock pile, the guide bars 'i5 and 32 are employed to centereach square, the lifting device being swung over the stock pile untilthe guides strike the side and end of the pile and the secticn islowered to its correct position. The sockets permit the guide bars toslide up when the lifting device lowered on a square to be picked up,but the bars at once d rop back into their sockets when the liftingframe is picked up. These guidesA alsc facilitate the proper positioningof the lifting device over the cast mattress sections or squares so thatthe arms 34 will be brought easily into registry with the openings I8.

While the foregoing description and drawings apply to a preferredembodiment of lifting instrumentalities for precast concrete slabs orother concrete sections, such as the flexibly articulated revetrnent matsquares, details may be made without departing from the inventiveconcept, and that therefore it will be understood and desired tc embracewithin the scope of invention such modifications and changes as may benecessary to adapt it to varying conditions and uses as defined by theappended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. Mechanism for lifting and stacking cast squares of flexible revetmentmats composed of concrete slabs flexibly interconnected by flexiblereinforcing means and having openings formed therein in registry withthe reinforcing means, the said mechanism comprising a frame adapted tobe positioned over the shape to be manipulated, a plurality of`oppositely disposed spaced parallel lifting arms vertically dependingfrom the .frame and pivotally suspended therefrom adjacent to upper endsof the arms, the said arms being adapted to enter the openings in thesquare and terminating in lifting hooks adapted to engage the flexiblereinforcing means exposed by the openings in the square for lifting andcarrying the square to a stacking station, an operating sha-ft extendinglongitudinally of the frame and carried by the frame intermediate thelifting arms, tie bars secured to selected members of the lifting armsfor operatively tying together the lifting arms into a series of unitarygroups thereof, operating discs on the shaft at each endof each group ofvthe lifting arms, oppositely eX- tending actuating leverarms"interconnecting each 'of the discs with opposite terminal liftingarms of each of the groupsl thereof, the lever arms having inner endssecured to the operating discs in vertical diametrically oppositerelation, operating levers for the said shaft at each end of the shaftfor operating the shaft and the groups of lifting arms simultaneously,end and side guide bars depending from the frame for engagingcorresponding ends and sides of the square with the lifting arms invertical alignment with the openings, and guide rollers carried by theframe for engagement with the square when the frame is lowered with thelifting arms entering the openings in the square, the said guide rollerscentering the frame on the square Are.Sponevely te engagement cf. thelifting hecht on me said lifting arias with the' neg 1e remforcing meansinterconnecting the1 slas "of, ne revetmentsquare.

2. Mechanism for lifting and transporting massive shapes s uch asconcrete slabs ojf'lfarge areas including revetment mat squares composedof slab-like units of reinforcedA concrete iiexiblyinterconnectedbyflexible reinforcing fabrics and having lifting openings symmetricallydisposed relative to the shape and in Ilon gitudinal and transversealignment and coincident with strands of the reinforcing fabric whichact as means enabling'lifting and manipulating the shapes,

the-'said mechanism comprising a frame sus; pended above the shape to belifted, the vfrairne including a suspension beam and lateral beamsrigidly secured to the suspension beam and extending longitudinallythereof, a plurality of lifting arms connected pivotally to the lateralbeams and freely depending therefrom, the said arms corresponding innumber and spacing to the lifting openings in the shape and beingadapted to enter the said openings when in registry therewith, thelifting arms terminating in lifting hook members `for engaging p s Qfthe reinforces fabrics extending il. e openings, end and side guidemeans depending from the frame and rigidly connected with the frame forengaging ends and sides of the shape responsively to the frame beingcentered relative to the shape with the piyoted lifting a in alignedregistry with the lifting openings in the shape while the frame issuspended apoye the shape and the liftingarms and hook members thereonare in position to engage the said pertions of the reinforcing fabricswithin the lifting openings when the frame is lowered, rigid meansinterconnecting selected numbers of the lifting arms into a series` ofrigid unitary groups, there being a series of such groups of the arms onopposite sides of the framein direct opposition to one another, whilethe groups on each cf the frame are in spaced alignment, Vand mechanismcarried by the frame and interet)nne` ed with the rigid unitary groupsoflifting arms for producing simultaneous andequal operation of eachgroup, the said mechanism also producing equal and ophosite movement'ofoppos' e gro for terwille.ins` simulteleue lifting @l of thehopk'meinbers of each group e to the reinforcing` fabrics of` thesquares for .e ecting equal and uniform lifting and tran nrt movementsof` the shape without imparting tortional stresses to any portionthereof.

3.- Mechansm for lifting and Shifting` from .one station to another castconcrete shapes Aoaf lange area such as revetment mat squares compesedof concrete slabs flexibly interconnected Vfie ible reinforcing meansand having lifting ope gs formed therein in registry with. thereinfpreme' means, the. said mechanism eomrrisrle e eeetinueus framefreely `susecircled @ver `the Shane and beine movable verticallyrelative thereto, the frame having a length substantially coeggtensivewith that of the .Sad shape, a plurality :Qi oppositely disposed.parallel lifting arms dependine vertically from opposite sides ofthe,frame and pivotally interconnected thereto and adapted to enter thelifting openings in the shape responsively to lowering the frame forengaging the said arms with the reinforcing means for the shape exposedin the said openings, rigid means rigidly secured to a selectedplurality of the lifting arms and interconnecting them into unitaryrigid groups extending serially along the frame, a shaft carried by theframe longitudinally thereof, a disc crank directly mounted on the shaftat each end of each rigidly connected group of the lifting arms, thesaid arms terminating at their lower free ends in hook members adaptedto liftingly engage the reinforcing means responsively to entry of thearms into the lifting openings of the shape when the frame is loweredrelative to the shape so that the hook members may liftingly engage thereinforcing means extending through the openings, oppositely extendingapproximately equal operating links pivotally connected to the disccranks at equal distances from the shaft and on diametrically oppositelyextending radii of the discs and also pivotally connected to theopposing unitary groups of lifting arms for effecting equal and oppositemovement to opposite lifting arm groups while simultaneously and equallyactuating the aligned groups on each side of the frame, and an operatinglever mounted on the shaft for turning the shaft and disc cranks forequally and simultaneously operating all of the groups of lifting arms.

4. Mechanism for lifting and manipulating cast concrete shapes of largearea such as revetment mat squares composed of concrete slabs flexiblyinterconnected by flexible reinforcing means and having lifting openingsformed therein in registry With the reinforcing means, the saidmechanism comprising a continuous frame suspended over the shape to bemanipulated and having a length approximating that of the shape, aplurality of oppositely disposed parallel lifting arms' verticallydepending from each side of the frame and pivotally interconnectedthereto and adapted to enter the openings in the shape responsively tolowering the frame relative to the shape, the said arms terminating attheir lower free ends in inwardly directed lifting hooks adapted toliftingly engage the underside of the exible reinforcing means exposedby the lifting openings in the shapes, means rigidly connecting selectednumbers of aligned lifting arms into series of integral groups, a shaftcarried by the frame extending longitudinally thereof, spaced disc crankmembers on the shaft, there being one such disc member adjacent to eachend of each integral group of the depending lever arms, oppositelyextending actuating links pivotally connected to the disc members atdiametrically opposite pivotal mountings and also pivotally connected tocorresponding ends of opposite integral groups of the lifting arms, thesaid links equally and oppositely actuating the said opposite integralgroups of depending arms into and away from lifting engagement betweenthe hook members and the reinforcing means of the shape, an operatinglever on the shaft for turning the shaft and disc members thereon,thereby effecting equal and simultaneous movement of each group ofdepending arms as a unit, end and side guide bars rigidly depending fromend and side members of the frame for engaging the shape endways andlaterally thereof responsively to centering the frame relative to theshape, and roller means carried by the frame for further adjustment ofthe frame relative to the sha-pe responsively to lowering the framerelative to the shape and entry of the lifting arms into the opening inthe shape for relieving unequal pressures on the said arms of eachintegral group thereof resulting from any slight misalignment of anygroup of the arms with corresponding openings in the shape for relievingsuch unequal pressures and equalizing entry of the depending arms ofeach group into the openings for uniformly engaging the hook members onthe arms with the reinforcing means of the shape exposed in the saidopenings for imparting unstressed lifting and transport movements to theshape.

5. Mechanism for lifting and moving concrete revetment mats composed ofindividual concrete slabs flexibly interconnected by flexiblereinforcing means and having symmetrically disposed lifting openings ateach side of contiguous slabs, the mechanism comprising a frameincluding a suspension beam and longitudinally extending opposite sidebeams rigidly secured to the suspension beam, oppositely disposedpivotally mounted lifting arms depending from the side beams, the armsdepending from each side beam being in spaced parallel alignment andsubstantially directly opposite to the arms depending from the oppositeside beam, the said arms corresponding in number and spacings to thelifting openings in the said slabs and being adapted to enter the saidopenings responsively to symmetrical placement of the frame relative tothe slabs and revetment mat, rigid connecting bars secured to aplurality of the aligned arms and connecting the said plurality of armsinto an integral group, such group on one side of the frame beingopposite to a corresponding group on the opposite side of the frame, anoperating shaft for the groups carried by the frame, operating levermeans on the shaft for the said groups, there being such lever means foreach end of each group, the said lever means simultaneously and equallyoperating the groups on each side of the frame as a single unit whilealso equally and oppositely actuating the corresponding opposite groups,whereby all lifting arms are simultaneously and equally operated forequal distribution of the weight of the revetment mat between thelifting arms during shifting of the mat from one station to anotherwhile preventing any substantial relative displacements between theindividual slabs during the shifting.

FRANK I. LOUCKES.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,270,995 Weickel July 2, 1918 1,750,878 Coe Mar. 18, 19301,764,623 Grondahl June 17, 1930 1,807,266 Wazlavek May 26, 19312,030,863 Fitch Feb. 18, 1936 2,250,751 Cullen et al July 29, 1941FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 487,477 Great Britain June 21, 1938

